“Real Housewife” NeNe Leakes is a “Sassy” Grandma

It takes a lot to melt the heart of a tough-as-nails Real Housewife, like NeNe Leakes.

But her newborn granddaughter just might be up for the challenge.

Viewers sat glued to their tubes as the sassy Southern socialite famously sparred with her onscreen nemesis Kim Zolciak and her Celebrity Apprentice co-star Star Jones. But at the ripe old age of 40, the recent divorcee is basking in the joy of becoming a first-time grandmother.

In an interview and pictorial with In Touch magazine, The Real Housewives of Atlanta shows off baby Bri’asia Bryant, born in June:

“I always wanted to have a girl and now I have one! She’s just adorable…Forty is the new 30. I’m a sassy, fashion-forward grandma!”

NeNe says she was shocked when she learned that her 22-year-old son, Bryson, and his girlfriend, Ashley Hill, 21 were expecting. Bryson — who has been arrested countless times for everything from drug possession to shoplifting…from Walmart! — didn’t even tell her about Ashley’s pregnancy:

“I only found out about everything because I ran into Ashley when she was more than six months along. I said, ‘You look pregnant.’ And she said, ‘Hasn’t Bryson told you?’ But he hadn’t because he knew that I wouldn’t approve of him having a child so young.”

Leakes added:

“I didn’t feel like he was ready for such a big responsibility. I was his age when I had him, so I know how tough it is. I didn’t want him to make the same mistakes that I did. I needed to let it sink in.”

And Grandma NeNe has no problem financing her granddaughter’s life as Ashley adjusts to motherhood. She’s gone “crazy” buying gifts for Bri’asia — everything from “little dresses, sparkly headbands and Gucci shoes…”